Michigan State Basketball: 5 Reasons for Fans to Be Optimistic in 2014-15

Michigan State officially will kick off its college basketball season in just two days against Navy. Fans have plenty to be optimistic about in Tom Izzo's 20th year coaching on the sidelines in East Lansing.

This offseason has actually witnessed much more activity than most. Along with a couple of incoming 2015 recruits signing on, two established college basketball players decided to transfer to Mighican State—Eron Harris (West Virginia) and Bryn Forbes (Cleveland State).

Initially, it was thought that neither sharpshooter could play until 2015-2016. But Forbes' hardship waiver was granted by the NCAA.

The Spartans will need all of the extra firepower they can get after arguably their top three players from last season's squad either graduated or entered the NBA draft. Contrary to last year's team, this one is much more of a classic "Izzo" team: not overly talented or hyped but possessing enough talent and leadership to again propel MSU deep into March.

College basketball is almost here. So let's take a look into the five reasons why Spartans fans should be optimistic for the 2014-15 campaign.

Dawson Ready to Shine

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Quite simply, Branden Dawson was Michigan State's best player in postseason play last season. Prior to March, however, his season was full of head-scratching performances mixed with flashes of brilliance.

The broken hand he suffered must have woken up the high-flyer because Dawson was a different player in the Big Ten tournament and Big Dance. And that is exactly the piece that Sparty needed to push it over the top.

While the Spartans still fell short in the Elite Eight, it wasn't due to Dawson's ineptitude. In the three games he played in the Big Ten tournament, he averaged 15 points and seven rebounds.

Dawson's electric played continued into the NCAA tournament, recording two straight performances of at least 24 points and nine boards. He was largely a forgotten element of the offense in the team's loss to the Huskies, when it hoisted a whopping 29 three-point attempts, making only 11.

Excluding Dawson from the game plan or game flow will surely not happen this season. He is the leading returning scorer and rebounder from last season's team. If Dawson has improved his jumper over the offseason, he won't have a glaring flaw in his repertoire, as he already possesses freakish athleticism and fantastic feel in the paint.

He isn't a captain. But Dawson's importance to this team should not be mistaken or overlooked, because the team will solely rely on him to produce in the paint. Dawson's role is even more magnified as his frontcourt counterparts, Matt Costello and Gavin Schilling, still have much to prove.

Spectators saw the potential late last season. Now is the time for the former Rivals.com 5-star high school recruit to carry this team and thrive all season long.

Newfound Leadership with Trice and Valentine

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There isn't a statistic to measure leadership, but its importance should never be undervalued.

Last year's team was one of the most talented in the Tom Izzo era, but it didn't reach the Final Four, a feat that six of his other teams were able to pull off. Many problems were present in that final loss to the eventual national champion UConn Huskies. Careless turnovers and an inexplicable urge to rely on the three-point shot surely contributed to that frustrating 60-54 loss.

What wasn't consistently present all season long, however, was leadership.

The 2013-14 Spartans had plenty of seasoned players, as seniors Keith Appling and Adreian Payne had both contributed since their sophomore years. But it just wasn't in their reserved personalities to lead.

Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine have that trait. Perhaps the one component that improves drastically over the offseason for the Spartans is the on-court leadership. During Big Ten media day, Izzo expressed the importance of leadership heading into the season.

Valentine is a charismatic, Draymond Green-type leader who plays with heart and galvanizes his teammates with his personality. He plays with an infectious enjoyment and intensity that others build on.

Trice is naturally quieter but plays with equal passion. Together, the starting backcourt duo will provide leadership for a team that will have many new contributors this season.

Enter: Bryn Forbes

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Forbes is one of the two high-profile transfers who entered East Lansing this summer. Through his two years at Cleveland State, he amassed over 900 points.

During his second year at Cleveland, Forbes averaged 15.4 points on 42.4 percent from three-point range. He also shot 82.6 percent from the charity stripe.

His shooting is evidently the main weapon he will provide the Spartans. Forbes is slightly undersized at 6'3", 175 pounds, but his quickness compensates for the lack of size.

The transfer's main issue will most likely be his defense. Just ask his coach, who said as much during a news conference following Friday's 101-46 exhibition victory over St. Cloud State. That's where the undersized nature of Forbes can trouble the junior.

With Gary Harris departing East Lansing for the NBA, Forbes will inherit his role as one of the team's main three-point shooters. Travis Trice will be the other perimeter specialist, and collectively, the two backcourt counterparts could win games solely with the threats of their shooting strokes.

Scoring is the common skill that departed along with the three Spartans starters. Forbes is probably a better three-point shooter than Keith Appling, Adreian Payne and Gary Harris, despite not thriving in many other areas.

Forbes registered 22 points with Cleveland State against Kentucky last season. He is capable of playing well on the big stage, and Spartans fans have reason to be optimistic about his offensive capabilities.

Point Guard of the Future

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Lourawls "Tum-Tum" Nairn won't be MSU's starting point guard at the beginning of the season, but he is the point guard of the future for Tom Izzo's program.

A lightning-quick, Kansas product, Nairn plays the point guard position with noticeable maturity and leadership. He pushes the ball with tremendous pace but also thrives at orchestrating the offense in half-court sets.

Nairn will impact the team immediately with these skills. Travis Trice, the current starting point guard, is the antithesis of Nairn in terms of their skill sets. Trice relies on perimeter shooting and is more of a quiet leader, whereas Nairn's explosiveness and fiery personality fuel his game.

Together, the two will form a fantastic point guard combination this season. Trice can even slide over to the 2-guard slot if Izzo elects to play a smaller lineup.

Moving forward, Nairn will learn the ropes and potentially emerge as Izzo's next classic point guard. That may be far-fetched, considering he hasn't played in a single official game as a Spartan, but he has the makings and intangibles that previous Spartan point guards possessed.

Nairn's freshman year will be as a role player. But he will be an important piece this season and future gem in Michigan State's program in the coming years.

The Man in Charge

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Entering his 20th career season as the face of the program he revitalized, Izzo awaits one of his bigger challenges in recent years with this team. Unlike his previous teams, this 2014-15 squad isn't nearly as talented and isn't centered on a few key players.

This team is full of former role players awaiting new, more featured roles. Izzo has never been revered for his prestigious recruiting, but he has always recruited players specific to his system and beliefs. The 59-year-old is as talented at preparing for any single game and adjusting as any coach in the country.

And his most accomplished seasons have come from maximizing the talent of his players. Returning are Branden Dawson and Denzel Valentine, the only two starters from last season's Elite Eight team.

While last year's senior class was talented, it was the first of Izzo's groups that never reached a Final Four. Think about that. If an Izzo-coached team doesn't reach a Final Four at least once every four years, it is considered a disappointment.

Now, with that class departed, he will look to return to those heights. This team will have much better leadership, something that Izzo has always coveted.

Regardless of whether a Michigan State team is the most talented or the least talented, the signal-caller concocting the game plans always gives his teams a chance to win. This team has more than enough skill, and with one of the best coaches in America, another successful season is around the corner.